The Port of San Diego signed off Tuesday on a prominent local restaurant group’s planned takeover of the waterfront lease held by the Fish Market Restaurant.

The Brigantine restaurant group — a family-owned business that’s operated in San Diego County since 1969 — will assume the lease for the Fish Market’s location on N. Harbor Drive. Brigantine’s private deal to acquire the Fish Market brand was announced late last year.

The sale marked a new era for the nearly 50-year old Fish Market restaurants, a family-owned seafood business. The Brigantine restaurant group intends to continue operating the downtown and Solana Beach eateries under the Fish Market brand.

Currently, the Brigantine operates 20 Southern California restaurants, including the Brigantine Seafood & Oyster Bar, Ketch Grill & Taps and Miguel’s Cocina. The group already has a strong local presence on San Diego’s waterfront with its $25 million Portside Pier, a multi-concept dining complex on the Embarcadero.

“The Brigantine is a trusted partner that has done an excellent job of transforming Port restaurant properties into incredible dining destinations for locals and visitors alike,” said Chair Danielle Moore, Port of San Diego board of port commissioners. “As they assume operations for The Fish Market restaurant at its premier location on our waterfront, we look forward to the Morton family bringing their expertise to a longtime favorite dining establishment on San Diego Bay and we thank The Fish Market for its decades of success.”